Black Rabbit Fur Sporran for everyday wear?

[GreenDragon]

So I got a Black Rabbit Fur Sporran. Just have a question as to if it will look right to wear it out while wearing, say, a t-shirt or hoodie? Or should i find a new sporran for everyday wear?

[davidlpope]

So I got a Black Rabbit Fur Sporran. Just have a question as to if it will look right to wear it out while wearing, say, a t-shirt or hoodie?

No. I'm assuming you are describing a metal cantled, rabbit fur formal sporran.

Or should i find a new sporran for everyday wear?

Yes, a simple black or brown leather sporran is appropriate. If money is a real issue, PM me. I have several BASIC sporrans that I am willing to mail to folks who really need one.

David

[GreenDragon]

Looks just like this:

http://www.sportkilt.com/product/192...t-Sporran.html

(Got from an ebay vendor, may be the exact same sporran.)

[davidlpope]

Looks just like this:

http://www.sportkilt.com/product/192...t-Sporran.html

(Got from an ebay vendor, may be the exact same sporran.)

Yep, that's what I had pictured. From the website description (emphasis mine):

A striking black dress sporran in black rabbit fur, a metal top, and three tassels.

[OC Richard]

The long view of things is, in the 19th century long hair sporrans were worn for all sorts of Highland Dress including plain outdoor dress. There weren't any other sorts of sporrans, save for Animal Mask sporrans.



But sometime around WWI new sporran styles became popular, a plain leather pocket with leather flap for Day Dress, and a similarly shaped fur pocket for Evening Dress. And so it has remained, with traditional Highland Dress.

Here's a catalogue from 1930 showing this categorised dress:




So it's a matter of following modern tradition or going with the older tradition, I suppose.

What does perhaps bridge the gap, to my eye at least, is a brown fur sporran. I've often seen these worn nowadays for informal wear and they look OK to me, especially if they have a brass cantle.

[Spartan Tartan]

I agree with davidlpope. Usually the type of sporran linked to in the OP is for dress occasions. I can see wearing it outside of strictly formal events, but not with a t-shirt or hoodie as you suggest.

[gary meakin]

Why do we assume that everyone who had their picture painted a century or two ago was wearing the "proper" attire?

[Calico]

Why do we assume that everyone who had their picture painted a century or two ago was wearing the "proper" attire?

Because it is all we have, and we have formed a consensus opinion to accept that little bit of knowledge as "what was done". Not perfect, but what alternative do we have?

[gary meakin]

You're right of course. I just can't help but think that once in a while we get someone who was having his portrait done so he put on what he had.

[xman]

You're right of course. I just can't help but think that once in a while we get someone who was having his portrait done so he put on what he had.

Certainly this is the case as can readily be seen in the portrait of William Duff here seen on the right.



He is wearing what he has. There is no sporran and the jacket is a very long cut. This is a true highlander wearing his true highland dress and in some respects we would consider it 'wrong'.

I think it's also fair to say that highland gentlemen were influenced by the clothes worn by other highland gents and not some 'for hire' pictures he saw on teh intwebz. Our ability to get off track are as amplified now as is our opportunity to learn about both traditional and historical highland dress.

PS I wonder, does Wm Duff's waistcoat have a lapel? ...